{"id":494582,"date":"2010-03-31T17:05:38","date_gmt":"2010-03-31T21:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=109806"},"modified":"2010-03-31T17:05:38","modified_gmt":"2010-03-31T21:05:38","slug":"cisco-valet-makes-it-easier-to-miss-linksys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/494582","title":{"rendered":"Cisco Valet Makes It Easier to Miss Linksys"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Typically, whenever someone would mention wireless routers in the home, I would immediately picture a blue box stamped with the name Linksys on it. And if that router came from Cisco, I would indeed be picturing the right one. Not anymore. Cisco today unveiled its own branded line of home network products, <\/a> called Cisco Valet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So why the name flip? It’s partially because<\/em> of the Flip — the consumer-friendly brand of pocketable video recording devices the company acquired via last year’s purchase of Pure Digital<\/a>. The inexpensive Flip cameras are so easy to use they’ve turned simplicity into a device feature, and Cisco is aiming to bring that simplicity to the task of setting up and configuring a home wireless network.\u00a0As Jonathan Kaplan, the senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Product, explains: “With complementary backgrounds and expertise, our Cisco and Flip teams have combined forces to change the rules for home wireless with a product line that empowers consumers to easily set up, enjoy and manage all of their wireless devices anywhere in their homes.”<\/p>\n

The “Valet” part of the name can be traced to a so-called Easy Setup Key — essentially a USB drive with Cisco’s Connect software. Plug it into a PC or Mac and the software configures the device’s connection in just three steps. Do the same to add new computers to the home 802.11n Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n

The new Valet router line starts at $99 and is available at outlets where you’d typically find home networking gear, such as Amazon, Staples and BestBuy. And\u00a0Cisco isn’t totally abandoning the ubiquitous Linksys name — similar-looking products without the Valet but with Linksys branding also make an appearance today<\/a>. But they look physically similar to the new Valet line, so the Linksys I grew up with is indeed fading away. At least I can take a little solace in the fact that my home network has valet service now.<\/p>\n

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req\u2019d):<\/strong><\/p>\n